Method of burning finely-divided fuel.



` PATBNTED JULY 2, 1907.

G. S. WELLES. METHOD 0F BURNING FINELY DIVIDBD FUEL.

` APPLIOATION FILED APB.. 30,1906.

., l: aff@ 7 UNITED srnrns ifATENT clarion.

GEORGE S. WELLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METHOD 0F BURNING FINELY-DIVIDI) FUEL.

To all wlwnrit 'lnag/A'concern:

Bc it known that I, GEORGIE S. WnLLEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook amlState ol' Illinois,^l1ave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Burning Finely Divided Fuel; and I do hereby declare the following tube a full,l clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to'make and use the same.

My invention relates to a novel method of burning pulverized coal or other finely divided fuel, the object l being to provide a method whereby relatively perfect combustion is obtained and in which the fire may be controlled to suit all requirements.

My said method 'consists in the novel steps hereinafter fully described-and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated apparatus suitable for carrying out my method and in which: f

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the combustion chamber of a furnace provided with fluid vehicle and fuel feeding means. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section ofthe same on the line 2-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail longitudinal section of a nozzle employed. Fig. 4 i s a view in elevation of a deflecting plate disposed in said nozzle.

My present method is very similar or rather practically identical With the method forming subject of my application for Letters Patent of the UnitedStates filed, April 16, 1906, serial No. 311962 which consists brieny in introducing into one end of a combustion chambera supply of pulverized fuel admixed with air under presf sure, the latter constituting the vehicle for carrying said pulverized fuel. The y combustion chamber is cylindrical or substantially so and into the same areA introduced laterally and tangential to the inner Wall thereof jets of air under pressure or air admixed with combilstible gas as, for instance, carbureted air, such air jets or currents following the contour of the inner wall and forming encircling currents which completely envelop the jet of admixed air and fuel introduced at the end of the chamber. 'The encircling air currents serve not only to protect the walls of the combustion charn-` ber against too intense action. of the heat but serve also to deflect the admixed air and fuel and cause the same to pass spirally and slowlyy through the combustionchamber, adding continuously fresh supplies of oxygen to promote cpmbustionz It is expressed in the said ap Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed April 30. 1906. Serial No. 314,450.

Patented July 2, 1907.

blast but that when a relatively low lire is maintained for a considerable period, the walls of the combustion chamber gradually cool down until the temperature in the combustion chamber attains a point so low as to be insullicient to cause ignition ol' the fuel introduced, consequently causing complete extinguislunent ol the lire. 'lo overcome this dillicnlty it 'has been found necessary when the lire is maintained relatively low to direct the admixed air and fuel more or less directly toward the annular wall of the combustion chamber so as to maintain said wall sulicientlyhot to maintain the fire, the directness ofthe flow toward said annular wall being'decreased as the supply of fuel is increased and vice versa. The encircling air currents prevent direct impingement of the llame against said wall and serve at the same time to equalize the heat ofthe latter throughout so that the danger of overheating said wall at any point is minimized. i f

In a companion application filed of even date -herewith I have fully described andnclaimed apparatus suitable for carrying out the methods forming subject 0f this and the aforesaid application of April 16th, such apparatus being here illustrated only sufficiently to comply with requirements. y v In the laccompanying drawings A indicates a cylindrical combustion chamber communicating at one end with an outlet B for the hot products of combustion, the other end being provided in its end wall with a feed nozh zle C communicatingbetween its ends with a hopper D, containing pulverized fuel and provided with suitable feed mechanism, and at its other end with a feed pipe E for compressed air. The latter communicates with a jacket F` inclosing said combustion chamber, and which receives its supply through the pipe G. Entering said combustion chamber in a direction tangential to the inner w'all thereof and at a plurality of points in the pemeans of pipes I, .l and I( with said pipe E, and are also connected with a source of supply of combustible gas or carbureted air by means of the pipes L, said pipes E, J, K and L being controlled by valves. The compressed lair is heated in tliesaid jacket F before entering the chamber A through said nozzle C and pipes H and thus serves to maintain the annular fire brick Wall of said chamber A cool externally. The air or gas `iets introduced through the said pipes H follow the contour of the wall of the chamber A and thus circle within the latter. Primarily the combustible fluid is introduced to heat said walls and lso far heat said chamber as to cause the subsequently admitted pulverized coal to ignite, said fluid being gradually shut off and the air admitted throughsaid pipes H gradually increased as the heat of the chamber increases, until the pulverized fuel andair abovel are introduced.

of', I provide a deiiecting plate M disposed upon the end riphery thereof are pipes H all of which are connected by In said nozzle C preferably in the delivery end there'- of a rod N passing through the outer end wall of said nozzle and maintained in any desired position therein by means of the collar O and set-screw P. The said deflecting plate M is dished sothat the face thereof against which the fuel impinges will serve to deflect the same outwardly at an incline. By means of the three wings Q radially disposed on said plate M` the latter is maintained centrally disposed in the cylindrical delivery end of said nozzle as will be obvious. The said plate M may be longitudinally shifted to project slightly beyond the mouth of said nozzle and when in this position the fuel impinging against the same will be deflected radially outwardly at almost a right angle to its normal direction of travel, While, if said plate is drawn farther into the nozzle the angle of deflection will be gradually reduced so that the fuel will impiuge less directly against the annular wall of the combustion chamber.

. liy maintaining the plate within the said nozzle it is not subjected to the intense heat of the chamber and consequently does not require frequent'replacement.

The nozzle C is preferably also connected with a source of supply of combustible gas or carbureted air by means of the valve controlled pipe E, such combustible fluid being introduced in primarily heating the combustion chamber and being subsequently introduced together with compressed air and pulverized uel if desired7 but this is seldom necessary or advisable.

I contemplate the employment of any suitable means other than those illustrated and described to carry out my said method, and the latter relates equally as well to the burning of pulverized or finely divided fuel other than coal.

I claim as my invention- 1. The herelndescrlbed method ol' burning finely dlvided fuel which consists in directing' such t'uel relatively radially into revolving air currents.

22 'lhe llerelmlescrlbed method of burning finely dlvided fuel which consists in introduchmr into :l combustion chamber interni rotating nir currents following.r the peripheral walls thereof, and introducing inwardly ol' said :tir currents and in :l direction toward [he sume :nlmlxed finely divided fuel und :l fluid vehicle therefor.

.'i. 'lhe herelmlescrihed lnethod of burningA linely dl vided fuel which consists in inlruducilnaY into a combustion chamber lateral rotating.;l previously heated :tir currents following the peripheral wulls thereof` und introducing' in wardly of said :lir currents :1nd in :l direction toward the sume udmixed finely divided fuel und a Ilnid vehicle therefor.

4. The hereindescrihed method of hurnim,r finely dlvided fuel which consists in intrmluringr into u combustion chamber lateral rotatintr previously heated nir currents followingr the peripheral wulls thereof. und introducing inwardly of said :tir currents und in u direction toward the same ndmixed finely divided fuel und u previously heated fluid vehicle therefor. l

ln testimony whereof i have signed my inline. in pres ence of two subscribing witnesses.

(llGOlUill S. 'NLLIGS.

Witnesses RnnoLrn WMA LoTz, E. F. WILSON. 

